Can Playoff Smart Shutdown Harden?

[GreenlyGreeny]

 

[Kiorrik]

Nobody can shut down Harden, I'm afraid.

[Ogaju]

No. But playoff Marcus can.

[Goldstar88]

No, but hopefully he can slow him down.

[gouki88]

Shut down? No. But Smart has shown an ability to make Harden get so frustrated that he makes dumb mistakes (those back-to-back offensive fouls a couple of years ago springs to mind).

Harden is near unstoppable in terms of defence. The only thing that really slows him down is himself

[esel1000]

He’ll slow him down... but then we’ll need to deal with Durant and Kyrie, and the fact that Brooklyn actually has a good supporting cast.

My gut tells me that this is going 5 games max. Hope I’m wrong.

[liam]

Nobody can shut down Harden, I'm afraid.

In the past, Harden has shut himself down in the playoffs but he was beat from long regular seasons. Health will be a massive factor in this Nets/Celtics series. On paper, the Nets should sweep but the games aren't played on paper.

[Kiorrik]

Nobody can shut down Harden, I'm afraid.

In the past, Harden has shut himself down in the playoffs but he was beat from long regular seasons. Health will be a massive factor in this Nets/Celtics series. On paper, the Nets should sweep but the games aren't played on paper.

Agreed.

Super keen for this series. Even just to see if we can make a couple games close. Or get a couple huge performances outta - well, anyone really.

[liam]

Nobody can shut down Harden, I'm afraid.

In the past, Harden has shut himself down in the playoffs but he was beat from long regular seasons. Health will be a massive factor in this Nets/Celtics series. On paper, the Nets should sweep but the games aren't played on paper.

Agreed.

Super keen for this series. Even just to see if we can make a couple games close. Or get a couple huge performances outta - well, anyone really.

Yeah, The Celtics are playing with house money in this series. If they could win one or two it puts a lot of pressure on the Nets.

[SparzWizard]

You shut down Harden but you have Durant and Irving to worry about. And guys like Joe Harris, Blake Griffin, and Jeff Green who tends to play extraordinary well against us.

This is the series where we need Jaylen Brown, and we don't have him.

[#1P4P]

C’s have to run the Nets out of the gym.

Stevens’ and this team’s preference is to reduce opposing teams to playing in the half court on offense and defense. It’s a strategy that works well especially in the playoffs, but Brooklyn has 3 elite half court players.

Brown and Tatum are 2 of the best transition players this season. Brown is out, but BS has to make transition offense a priority. When you’re out-skilled, you outwork and this strategy will constantly put the Nets on their heels and force KD, Kyrie, and Harden to play defense at a pace that they aren’t comfortable at. Let’s see how well their conditioning is by game 3 and beyond after averaging 35+ hard playoff minutes of games scoring 120+ after an injury riddled and condensed season.

[Somebody]

He can definitely slow Harden down, but our issue in this series will be whether we can score enough points to outscore them.

[Scottiej23]

He’ll slow him down... but then we’ll need to deal with Durant and Kyrie, and the fact that Brooklyn actually has a good supporting cast.

My gut tells me that this is going 5 games max. Hope I’m wrong.

Nah, wrong, The Nets'll win a couple of games probably.

[Kiorrik]

He’ll slow him down... but then we’ll need to deal with Durant and Kyrie, and the fact that Brooklyn actually has a good supporting cast.

My gut tells me that this is going 5 games max. Hope I’m wrong.

Nah, wrong, The Nets'll win a couple of games probably.

Hah, hit 'm with the ol' winner switcheroo.

I'm with ya.

Celtics in either 5 or 7.

5 if we catch them off guard. If that doesn't happen we'll win it in a slugfest.

Yes I'm delusional. Leave me be.

[SHAQATTACK]

If he can hold him under 25 it would be a victory for Smart.


I worry Smart will get the big head and try and match Hardens scoring and brick the paint off the rim .